Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc., an integrated company focused on responsible mining and advanced processing to deliver carbon-neutral graphite materials to the global market, has reported significant technological progress in expanding its product portfolio for high-performance, high-technology applications.
In collaboration with Canadian university researchers Professors Frej Mighri, Said Elkoun, and Samaneh Shahgaldi, the company has demonstrated that its natural graphite materials are not only suited for energy storage but also versatile enough for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding applications.
Eric Desaulniers, Founder, President, and CEO of NMG, said these results highlight the adaptability of the company's graphite materials and the depth of its scientific partnerships, transforming graphite innovation into multifunctional solutions intended to help optimize future sales mix and margins while entering new value-added markets serving clean energy, advanced communication systems and specialized aeronautics.
Building on a foundation of scientific research on graphite polymer composites for fuel-cell bipolar plates published in leading international journals (Polymer Engineering & Science, International Polymer Processing, Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, Journal of Composites Science; 2025), NMG's R&D team has extended its evaluation of these advanced materials to new functional domains.
Supported by active collaborations with Université Laval, Université de Sherbrooke and Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, as well as Plastiques Gagnon Inc. specialized in industrial plastics, the company is developing and optimizing its bipolar plate composites while exploring their potential for EMI shielding and electromagnetic protection.
A comprehensive series of thermo-mechanical and microstructural tests confirmed the high crystallinity (~80%), thermal stability above 400°C, and controlled coefficient of thermal expansion of NMG's graphite polymer composites, demonstrating robust integrity under variable conditions. The materials achieved tensile strength around 40 MPa and electrical conductivity up to 25 S/cm (12 S/cm through-plane) - a balanced combination that supports both energy and electromagnetic shielding applications.
ASTM D4935 evaluations of the same composite family showed 60-70 dB shielding effectiveness below 2 GHz and 55-65 dB across 1-6 GHz, meeting or exceeding telecom and automotive standards. These results, obtained on materials originally designed for fuel-cell applications, highlight the versatility, durability, and scalability of NMG's graphite composite platform for next-generation lightweight protection systems in telecom, automotive, and defense sectors.
Testing and validation were conducted with Novika Solutions in ISO-9001-certified facilities, compliant with ASTM D4935. Novika's infrastructure ensures reliable and independent verification of electromagnetic performance.
Graphite emerges as a strategic bridge between polymer composites and metallic shielding, enabling a new generation of multi-functional materials that combine electromagnetic protection - including radar absorption - with thermal and infrared control. As NMG advances toward defense-grade performance (>80 dB), its R&D roadmap remains focused on scalable, sustainable composites that integrate energy, thermal, and stealth functionalities for intelligent systems.
By testing and optimizing graphite integration into high-performance engineered materials to meet established standards, NMG expands its product portfolio for niche market segments. The company is pursuing a diversified marketing strategy to leverage the large flake sizes distribution from its future Phase-2 Matawinie Mine for high-value industries in the Western World.
These research projects were partly funded thanks to grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, PRIMA Québec, and MITACS. NMG holds the necessary licences for the use of these projects' results for research, development and commercial exploitation, or has a right of first refusal regarding the commercial exploitation of these projects' results.
Source: Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc.
